2.5GW! World's Largest Grid-Side Grid-Forming Energy Storage Cluster Commissioned with NR Electric Protection as Key Supplier
On May 27, 2026, the 2.5GW Saudi SEC Phase III Battery Energy Storage Project, supplied by NR Electric Protection (NARI Relays), successfully completed full-grid charging and discharging tests, marking the official commissioning of the world's largest grid-side grid-forming energy storage cluster.
Aerial view of the station
The project serves five critical power grid regions across Saudi Arabia—Riyadh, Rabigh, Dawadmi, Al Jouf, and Qaisumah—and is currently the largest grid-forming battery energy storage cluster in operation worldwide. The project comprises more than 2,000 Power Conversion Systems (PCSs) and provides advanced grid-support capabilities, including active power regulation, primary frequency response, dynamic voltage regulation, black start capability, and adaptive operation under both strong and weak grid conditions.
The project owner, Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), imposed exceptionally demanding delivery requirements. From project launch to production and delivery, the entire schedule was compressed into less than four months. In response, NR Electric Protection completed the design and submission of the complete engineering drawings in just one week, and delivered the first batch of integrated battery energy storage and step-up transformer units within 53 days.
Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) is the Kingdom's sole nationwide electricity utility and operates as a vertically integrated monopoly. Headquartered in Riyadh, SEC was established in 2000 through the merger of several regional electricity companies and is responsible for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity across Saudi Arabia.
On-site photos of integrated energy storage machines